NATURE’S METRONOME

Hands-on is pleased to present Nature’s Metronome, a selection of recent works by Verona Shi.

Verona Shi’s ceramics emerge from a dialogue with time, embodying the shifting, ungraspable nature of existence. These works do not merely depict time’s passage; they enact it, transforming it into a tactile, sensory experience that invites reflection on the cyclical, ever-changing flow of the natural world. Through her masterful manipulation of elemental forces, Shi creates a space where time is not a linear sequence, but a living phenomenon-dynamic, responsive, and deeply intertwined with the materials she shapes.

Rooted in the ancient Chinese cosmology of Wuxing, the five elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are not mere symbols within Shi’s work but forces that shape both the form and soul of her pieces. The elemental energies are not simply illustrated, but are allowed to reveal themselves through the artist’s process- a process where control is tempered by chance, and the outcome is a delicate negotiation between intention and environment. Here, time operates not as a rigid measure, but as an agent of transformation, quietly shaping each piece with a kind of organic purpose.

Shi’s method of creation mirrors the passage of time itself: slow, layered, and at times unpredictable. The interaction between the kiln’s atmosphere, the firing temperatures, and the glazes creates an alchemical process where the materials undergo subtle changes, revealing new forms and textures. In this way, Shi’s ceramics are born of the very forces that govern time- transformation, erosion, and growth. Each piece is not just a creation but a record of the dialogue between artist and material, evidence of time’s influence on the objects of the world.

The surfaces of Shi’s work are a testament to time’s delicate imprint. Some appear to ripple with the trace of slow-moving water; others fracture, their surfaces scarred by the quiet erosion of time’s passage. These markings, far from being accidental, are intentional expressions of time’s impermanence- its ability to accumulate, erode, and transform in ways both subtle and profound. In this, Shi’s work speaks of time not as an abstract concept, but as a physical force, one that is as much felt as it is seen.

Rather than merely ornamental, these ceramics serve as vessels for contemplation. They call on the viewer to engage with their own perception of time, urging a shift from the frenetic pace of modern life to a more reflective, attentive relationship with the world. In an era marked by the acceleration of digital and industrial rhythms, Shi’s work proposes a gentler, more deliberate approach-one that aligns with the slow, rhythmic cycles of nature.

Through her ceramics, Verona Shi invites us into a space where time is no longer something to be measured, but something to be experienced- an ever-present, ever-evolving condition that we are invited to witness and inhabit. Each piece is a meditation on impermanence, a quiet acknowledgement of the forces that shape us all, reminding us that time, in all its flux, is the true metronome of existence.